Surgical sagittal blade cartridge with a reinforced guide bar

ABSTRACT

A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed from an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate defining a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate may comprise an inner tine and/or two opposed outer tines. The inner tine may be formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines may extend distally so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/907,197, filed on Jun. 20, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.11,241,240, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/807,961, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,687,823, filed on Nov. 9, 2017, whichis a continuation of PCT International Application No.PCT/US2016/031407, filed on May 9, 2016, which claims priority to andall the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/160,234,filed on May 12, 2015, all of which are hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a surgical sagittal blade cartridge that has astatic guide bar and a blade head that is pivotally mounted to the guidebar. More particularly, this invention is related to a surgical sagittalblade cartridge with a reinforced guide bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sagittal saw blade is a surgical saw with a head that pivots around anaxis that is perpendicular to the blade. PCT Pub. No. WO2006/017066A2/U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,860 and PCT Pub. No. WO2007/030793A2/U.S. Pat. No. 7,704,254, the contents of which are eachincorporated herein by reference, each disclose a sagittal saw bladecartridge. A sagittal saw blade cartridge includes a static guide barand a blade head. The guide bar is an elongated member that isreleasably attached to the handpiece, the saw that actuates thecartridge. The blade head is pivotally mounted to the guide bar and hasteeth that extend forward from the guide bar. One or more drive linksextend from the blade head towards the proximal end of the guide bar.The drive links are reciprocated back and forth by a drive assemblyinternal to the saw. The reciprocation of the drive links causes theblade head to pivot back and forth. The pivoting of the blade head iswhat enables the teeth to cut the tissue against which the blade head ispressed. Sometimes, this type of cartridge is referred to as anoscillating tip saw blade cartridge.

An advantage of the sagittal blade cartridge is that the only portion ofthe cartridge that pivots is the distally located blade head. By way ofcomparison, a conventional sagittal saw blade pivots from its point ofattachment to the saw to which the blade is attached. A cartridge, whenactuated, vibrates less in the hands of the surgeon holding thehandpiece. Also, it is common practice to use a cutting guide toproperly position a sagittal saw blade relative to the tissue the bladeis intended to cut. When a conventional blade is actuated, theoscillating movement of the blade imposes significant wear on thesurfaces of the cutting guide defining the slot in which the blade isseated. The guide bar of a surgical sagittal blade cartridge onlyminimally moves in this slot. Thus, by using a cartridge, instead of aconventional blade, less of the material forming the cutting guide isrubbed off the guide. This reduces the extent to which the surgeon hasto flush worn off cutting guide material from the surgical site.Further, use of the oscillating tip blade reduces the extent to whichthe material forming the guide becomes so worn that the guide itself isrendered useless.

A surgical sagittal blade cartridge has another benefit over aconventional sagittal saw blade. Since the guide bar remains static whenthe blade head is actuated, the practitioner can press a finger or twoagainst the guide bar. This facilitates the holding of the cartridge inthe desired position as the cartridge is advanced against the tissuethat is to be cut.

When either a conventional sagittal blade or a sagittal blade cartridgeadvances through bone, the blade head is exposed to resistance. Thisresistance can be appreciable when the cut has a depth of 5 cm or more.Often the bone located adjacent the underside of the cartridge is moreresistive to cutting than the bone located immediately above thecartridge. The cartridge, like most mechanical devices, will whenadvanced forward, advance along the path of least resistance. Since thebone above the cartridge can be less resistance to cutting than the bonebelow the cartridge, a cartridge when advanced, can flex upwardly out ofthe plane of the desired cut. This upwardly flexing of the blade isknown as skiving. There can also be situations when owing to the densityof the bone, the cartridge, when advanced, flexes below the plane of thecut. This type of flexure is known as diving.

Regardless of the direction the blade flexes, the flexure isundesirable. This is because a sagittal saw blade cartridge is typicallyused to remove bone so an artificial implant can be fitted in the spacepreviously occupied by the removed bone. An implant is formed withsurfaces designed to precisely seat against the complementary surfacesof the bone against which the implant is mounted. If the cut does notleave the bone with surfaces that have the desired shape, the results ofthe implant fitting procedure may be less than optimal.

In theory, one could increase the rigidity of a surgical sagittal bladecartridge by increasing the thickness of the guide bar. It should beappreciated that the slots of cutting guide through which the cartridgeis inserted tend to be relatively narrow. Often the height this slots isaround 1.5 mm or less. This height limit imposes a limit of thethickness of the cartridge guide bar that can be inserted in this slot.Furthermore, if thickness of the guide bar is increased, by extension itis necessary to increase the thickness of the cut that will be formed bythe cartridge. Increasing cut thickness can also lead to the cartridgeleaving a cut surface that does not have the desired degree of planarsmoothness. Increasing guide bar thickness is therefore typically not aviable solution for reducing the incidence of cartridge flexure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to a new and useful surgical sagittal bladecartridge. The surgical sagittal blade cartridge includes a guide bardesigned to resist deformation when subjected to uneven resistance.

The surgical sagittal blade cartridge of this invention includes a guidebar that is formed with three plates. There is a top plate and a bottomplate opposite the top plate. Between the top and bottom plate there isan inner plate. The inner plate is formed to have a curved head. Thecurved head functions as the boss around which the cartridge blade headpivots.

In many versions of the invention, the inner plate is formed to have abase that forms proximal end of the plate. Three tines extend forwardfrom the base. There are two outer tines and an inner tine. The tinesare laterally spaced apart from each other. The inner tine formed tohave a curved head that functions as the pivot boss. When a cartridgewith this type of guide bar is assembled, the drive links that pivot theblade head are disposed in the spaces between the inner tine and theouter tine.

In some versions of this invention, the outer tines extend distallyforward of the inner tine. In these versions of the invention, the outertines thus extend forward of the pivot boss. It should be appreciatedthat in these versions of the invention the base of the blade head isdisposed between the spaced apart sections of the outer tine that arelocated forward of the pivot boss.

In versions of the invention where the outer tines extend forward of theinner tine, the outer tines may be formed with lobes that extendinwardly towards each other. These distal sections of the outer tinethus reinforces the guide bar so as to reduce the likelihood of theflexing of the guide bar.

In some versions of the invention the plates forming the guide bar arethree distinct plates. These plates are welded or otherwise securedtogether to form the guide bar. In some versions of the invention two ormore of the plates are machined, molded or otherwise formed as a singleunit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is pointed out with particularity in the claims. The aboveand further features and benefits of this invention are understood fromthe following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a saw and surgical sagittal bladecartridge assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cartridge of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the inner plate of the cartridge of thisinvention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative inner plate of a cartridge ofthis invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative assembly that may be integralwith the cartridge of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an assembly 30 of this invention. Assembly 30 includes asaw 32 to which a surgical sagittal blade cartridge 60 is releasablyattached. Saw 32 includes a body or housing 34. In the depicted versionof the invention, housing 34 is pistol shaped. The head 38 is shaped toreceive the proximal end of cartridge 60. (Here, “proximal” isunderstood to mean towards the surgeon holding the saw 32; away from thesite to which the cartridge 60 is applied. “Distal” is understood tomeans away from the surgeon holding the saw; towards the site to whichthe cartridge 60 is applied). A coupling rod 40, the head of which isseen, is slidably mounted to the saw head 38. When coupling rod 40 is inthe run position, a portion of the rod presses against the cartridge tohold the cartridge to the head. When the coupling rod 40 is in the loadposition, the coupling rod 40 does not press against cartridge 60. Thisallows the cartridge 60 to be removed from the head and a new cartridgereleasably attached to the head. A wing nut 42 attached to the headmoves the coupling rod 40 between the run and load positions.

A motor 48, represented by a phantom cylinder, is disposed inside thebarrel of housing 34. Motor 48 is connected to a pair of drive pins 50,one identified, that are mounted to the head 38 to project above thesurface on which the cartridge 60 is seated. The drive pins 50 aremounted to the head 38 to engage in opposed oscillatory motion. Atrigger 52, located below the saw head 38, is the manually actuatedmember that is depressed to control the actuation of the saw. Not seenis the power supply that provides energization signals to the motor 48.Often this power supply is a battery or power cord that is attached tothe base of grip portion of the saw housing 34.

The cartridge 60, as seen in FIG. 2 , includes a guide bar 62 to which ablade 136 is attached. The blade 136 is mounted to and extends forwardfrom the distal section of the guide bar 62. Drive links 112 extendproximally from opposed sides of the blade 136. The drive links 112terminate at a location forward of the proximal end of the guide bar 62.

The guide bar 62 is a laminate structure that includes a bottom plate64, an inner plate 76 disposed over the bottom plate 64 and a top plate102 disposed over the inner plate 76. Inner plate 76 is thus sandwichedbetween the two outer plates, bottom plate 64 and top plate 102.Collectively, the plates are formed so that the guide bar 62 has aproximal section 63 that from the proximal end of the plate initiallytapers outwardly and then tapers inwardly. Forward of the proximalsection 63 the guide bar has a middle section 66 and a distal section68. Plates 64, 76 and 102 are formed so that the opposed sides of theguide bar that form the sides of the middle section and distal sections68 are parallel. The width across the bar middle and distal sections 66and 68, respectively, is less that the width across the outwardlytapered portions of the bar proximal section 63.

Immediately forward of the proximal end of the plate, the bottom plate64 is formed to have two laterally spaced apart openings 67 (oneidentified). Openings 67 in semi-oval in shape. Each opening 67 has acurved perimeter directed towards the proximal end of the plate and astraight perimeter directed towards the distal end of the cartridge.Forward of openings 67, the bottom plate is formed to have a keyholeshaped opening 69. Opening 69 is shaped so the widest width portion ofthe opening can receive a head portion of the saw coupling rod 40.Opening 69 is centered along the proximal-to-distal longitudinal axisalong the guide bar 62. The bottom plate 64 is further formed so thenarrow width portion of the opening 69 is located distally forward ofthe wide width portion of the opening.

The bottom plate 64 is further formed so that proximal to the distalplate there are two openings 70, one opening identified. Each opening 70is longitudinally aligned with a separate one of the openings 67.Openings 70 are similar in shape to openings 67 and reverse inorientation relative to openings 67. Openings 70 are thus orientated sothe curved ends of the openings 70 face distally. The straight ends ofthe openings 70 face the proximal end of plate 64. Forward of openings70, the bottom plate 64 is formed with two elongated slots 72, one slotidentified, that extend through the plate. Each slot 72 extends forwardfrom a proximal end located close to the end of the adjacent opening 70closest to the longitudinal axis along the plate 64. Forward from theproximal end, the slot 72 curves outwardly towards the side edge of theplate. Slots 72 terminate at locations spaced proximally away from thedistal end of the plate 64.

Inner plate 76, as seen best in FIG. 3 , is formed to have a base 78that forms the proximal end of the plate. Three laterally spaced aparttines 80, 86 and 99 extend forward from the base 78. Tines 80 and 99 arethe outer tines. The outer surfaces of tines 80 and 99 are the outersurfaces of the plate 76 that form sections of the outer side surfacesof the guide bar 62. Outer tines 80 and 99 thus have proximal sectionsthat extending forward from plate base 78 taper first inwardly and thenoutwardly. The outer tines 80 and 99 are symmetrically located relativeto the longitudinal axis through the guide bar 62. Outer tines 80 and 99are further shaped to be mirror images each other. Adjacent the distalend of each tine 80 and 99, each tine is shaped to have a tab 82, oneidentified, that extends inwardly to the longitudinal center axis of theplate 76. Proximal to the tab 82, each tine 80 and 99 is shaped to havea lobe 84, one lobe identified, that extends inwardly towards thelongitudinal center axis of the plate 76. Moving proximally to distallyalong the tine 80 or 99, the associated lobe 84 first curves inwardlyand then curves outwardly. The inner plate 76 is formed so that lobes 84are spaced proximally away from tabs 82.

Tine 86, the inner tine of inner plate 76, is centered on thelongitudinal axis of the plate. Tine 86 is formed to have a keyholeshaped opening 90. The inner plate 76 is shaped so that opening 90 isidentical in shape and positioned to be in registration with opening 69of bottom plate 64. The inner tine 86 is of constant width except forthe distal end of the tine. At the most distal end, tine 86 has a head95 with a distally directed face that is curved. Between the constantwidth section of the tine and the head 95 the tine has a neck 94. Theneck 94 has opposed side surfaces that curve inwardly to head 95.

Given that the tines 80, 86 and 99 are spaced apart from each other,there is elongated, closed end slot 96 between each of the outer tines80 and 99 and the inner tine 88. The proximal end of the slot 96 is theclosed end of the slot. When cartridge 60 is assembled, each slot 96 isdisposed over a separate one of the openings 67 and 70 in the bottomplate 64. The inner plate 76 is further formed so that the proximal endportion 98 of each slot 96 has a shape substantially equal to the shapeof bottom plate openings 67. Thus, the lateral width of the proximal endportion 98 of each slot 96 is greater than the width of the slot 96distally forward of the proximal section.

Returning to FIG. 2 , it is observed that top plate 102 is shaped tohave an outer perimeter substantially identical to that of bottom plate80. Forward of the proximal end of the top plate 102, the plate 102 isshaped to have two openings 104, one opening identified. Openings 104are identical in shape and positioned to be in registration with bottomplate openings 67. Forward of openings 104, the top plate is formed tohave an oval shaped opening 106. Top plate 102 is formed so that whenthe guide bar 60 is assembled opening 106 is disposed over and extendsaround inner plate opening 90. The top plate 102 is further formed todefine two openings 108, one opening identified. Openings 108 are formedto be identical in shape and in registration over the bottom plateopenings 70.

Blade 136 is formed to have a centrally located web 142. The blade 136is formed so that web 142 has a thickness that is no greater than thethickness of inner plate 76. The web 142 of the blade 136 seen in FIG. 2is generally rectangular in shape. When blade 136 is in the centeredposition within the guide bar 62 the major axis of the web 142 iscollinear with the major axis of the guide bar. Extending proximallyfrom web 142 and away from the longitudinal axis of the web. Blade 136is shaped to have two feet 138, one foot identified. Feet 138 have thesame thickness of web 142. Each foot 138 extends to the open end of theadjacent slot 96 internal to the inner tine 86. An opening 140 extendstop to bottom through each foot 138. Between the feet 138 blade 136 isformed to have a curved, proximally directed face 144. The blade 136 isshaped so that blade face 144 can seat against and pivot around the head95 integral with the inner tine 86. The blade feet 138 and web 142 aresometimes referred to as the base of the blade 136.

The distal end of the blade web 142 extends to the distal end of theguide bar 60. A head 146 is integrally with and extends forward of thedistal end of the web 142. Head 146 is formed with teeth 148. The blade136 is further formed so that head 142 has a thickness greater than thatof the web 142. More particularly, the head is formed to have athickness so that the kerf formed by the cutting action of blade 136 issufficient to receive the guide bar 60.

A drive link 112 is disposed in each of the slots 96 internal to theguide bar 62. Each drive link 112 is in the form of an elongated flatstrip of metal. The drive links 112 are formed so that, at the proximalend of each link, there is a foot 114, one foot identified. Each foot114 is formed to have a center located through hole 116, one openingidentified. Through holes 116 are dimensioned so that the associateddrive rod feet 114 can be fitted over the saw head drive pins 50. Eachdrive link 112 is shaped so that foot 114 has a thickness that isgreater than the thickness of the metal strip forming the main body ofthe link. The thickness of the feet 114 is typically no greater than thethickness of the guide bar 62. When the cartridge 60 is assembled, thefeet 114 generally seat in the proximal end portion 98 of the associatedslot 96. The portions of the feet 114 that project outwardly from themain body of each link 112 seat in bottom plate openings 67 and topplate openings 104.

Two fingers 118 extend distally forward from the distal end of the mainbody of each drive link 112, one finger identified. Fingers 118 overlapand are spaced apart from each other. More particularly, fingers 118 arespaced apart from each a sufficient distance so that a blade foot 138can seat between each pair of fingers. Each finger 118 is formed with ahole 120. The holes 120 of each pair of fingers 118 are in registrationwith each other.

As part of the process of assembly a cartridge 60 of this invention, theblade 136 is positioned so that each blade foot 138 is disposed betweena pair of drive link fingers 118. A pivot pin 122, one pin identified,that extends through the finger holes 120 and the blade foot opening 140pivotally holds the foot 38 to the associated drive link 112.

During the assembly of the cartridge 60, the inner plate 76 is initiallywelded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 64 or to the top plate102. After this operation is completed, the drive links-and-bladeassembly is positioned so that the drive links 112 are seated in slots96 and the curved proximally directed face 144 of blade 136 is seatedagainst the curved distally directed face of tine head 95 integral withthe inner plate 76. The top plate 102 or bottom plate 64 is then weldedor otherwise secured to the exposed face of the inner plate 76. At thecompletion of the process of assembling the cartridge 60, the drive linkfeet 114 seat in plate openings 67 and 104. The drive link fingers 118seat in openings 70 and 108 formed, respectively in the guide bar bottomplate 64 and top plate 102. Blade head 142 is located immediatelyforward of the distal end of the guide bar 62.

From FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that cartridge 60 includes twoparallel ribs 150. Ribs 150 extend upwardly from the outer surface ofthe bar top plate 102. The ribs are positioned so each rib is alignedwith the longitudinal axis of a separate one of the openings 104. Ribs150 extend forward from a location approximately 2 mm forward of theopenings 104. Each rib 150 terminates at a location approximately 10 mmforward of plate opening 106. Ribs 150 are formed separate from the topplate 102. The rib 150 are welded or otherwise permanently secured tothe rest of cartridge 60.

As discussed in PCT Pub. No. WO 2013/016472A1/US Pat. Pub. No.2014/0163558, explicitly incorporated herein by reference, once assembly30 is prepared for use, cartridge ribs 150 are disposed over saw head38. Ribs 150 reduce the flexing of the section of cartridge 60 disposedover the saw head 38.

To prepare assembly 30 of this invention for use, the cartridge 60 isfitted to the saw head 38. As a result of this over this attachment,each drive pin 50 is seated in a separate one of the holes 116 formed ina drive link foot 114. Coupling rod 40 extends through the overlappingopenings 69, 90 and 106 of the cartridge. The coupling rod 40 is loweredover the guide bar so the head of the coupling rod (not identified)presses against the surface of inner plate 72 exposed through top plateopening 106. This press action holds the cartridge 60 to the saw head38. When the cartridge 60 is secured to the drive head, the drive pinsand drive links cooperate to urge the blade 136 proximally. Theproximally directed face 144 of the blade is urged against the curvedface of head 95 internal to the cartridge 60.

Assembly 30 is actuated by depressing trigger 52. This results in theactuation of the motor 44. The actuation of the motor 44 results in theback and forth oscillation of the drive pins 50. The movement of thedrive pins 50 causes the drive links 112 to engage in opposed back andforth reciprocation of the drive links. The opposed back and forthmotion of the drive links 112 causes the blade to pivot back and fortharound the head 95 internal to the guide bar 62. The pivoting action ofthe blade teeth 148 causes the teeth to cut the tissue against which thecartridge is pressed.

During the course of advancing the cartridge 60, the cartridge isexposed to resistive forces. The inner plate 76 provides structuralstrength to the guide bar 62. This structural strength resists theextent to which the bar 62 would otherwise flex when exposed to theseresistive forces. Further reinforcement of the guide bar 62 is providedby the sections of the outer tines 80 and 99 that extend forward of thehead 95 of the inner tine 86. Tabs 82 and lobes 84 provide structuralstrength to the guide bar at the distal portion of the guide bar. Thisis the portion of the guide bar initially exposed to the resistiveforces. The presence of tabs 82 and 84 thus further reduces thelikelihood that the distal portion of the guide bar will skive or dive.The prevention of the skiving or diving of this portion of the guide bar62 reduces the likelihood that the cartridge 60 as whole will skive ordive.

A further feature of this invention is that the drive links 112 are, onboth sides, encased in the inner plate 76. This means that, if a surgeonholds or touches the sides of the guide bar when the cartridge isactuated, the surgeon's fingers do not come into contact with thereciprocating driving links 112. At a minimum, this makes it essentiallyimpossible for the drive links to, when moving, tear the glove off thesurgeon's fingers. Still another benefit of this construction of theinvention, is that it facilitates the efficient welding of the sideportions of plates 64, 76 and 102. This side welding of the plates 64,76 and 102 so as to form side welds along the opposed sides of the guidebar 62 serves to strengthen the guide bar.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative inner plate 160 that can be partof guide bar of a cartridge of this invention. Inner plate 160 has thebase 78 of the first described inner plate 76. Outer tines 162 and 170extend forward from the base 78 and are spaced laterally away from theinner tine 86. The proximal portions of outer tines 162 and 170 areidentical in shape to the proximal portions of tines 80 and 99. Thedistal portion of each tine 162 and 170 is only formed with a singlemember that protrudes inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of theplate 160. This single protrusion is a lobe 164. Extending proximal todistally along the tine 162 or 170 the lobe extends outwardly from thetine (towards the plate longitudinal axis) from a position slightlyproximal to the distal end of the head 95 integral with the inner tine88. The lobe 164 curves such that where the lobe has a maximum thicknessis location forward of head 95. From the position of the maximumthickness, the lobe curves inwardly towards the outer surface of thetine 162 or 170. The distal end of each lobe 164 is the distal end ofthe tine 162 or 170 with which the lobe is integral.

Inner plate 160 is formed with an inner tine 165. Inner tine 165 issimilar in shape to the previously described inner tine 86. A differencebetween the two tines is that proximal to the neck 95, inner tine 165has a taper. Thus extending proximally from neck 95 the width of thetine 165 increases.

Inner plate 160 is well suited as the inner plate of a guide bar that ispart of cartridge that includes a blade that has a relatively wide web.With this type of cartridge, it may be difficult to provide the tabs 82of cartridge 60 since the presence of the tabs might interfere with theback and forth oscillations of the web. With a cartridge including lobes164 the lobes provide the guide bar with the structural strengthadjacent in the distal portion of the guide bar that is useful forreducing skiving and diving.

FIG. 5 illustrates alternative components of a cartridge of thisinvention. Illustrated here is an inner plate 180. Inner plate 180 hasthe base 78 and inner tine 86 of the first described inner plate 76.Inner plate 180 has opposed outer tines 182 and 197 that are mirrorimages from each other. Each tine 182 is formed to have a single lobe184. Inner plate 180 is formed so that each lobe 184 extends inwardlyfrom the associated tine 182 or 197 at a location distally forward ofthe tine head 95. Each lobe 184 essentially extends perpendicularly awayfrom the tine 182 or 197. Forward of where the tine 184 extendsperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the inner plate 180 the lobestarts to taper outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. The distalend of each lobe 184 essentially is the distal end of the tine 182 or197 with which the lobe is integral. The side to side thickness of thelobes proximal to the distal end of plate 180 is greater than the sideto side thickness of the tines 182 and 197 proximal to the lobes.

The inner plate is shown as having a number of through holes, one in thebase, one in the inner tine 86 and one in each of the lobes 184, (holesnot identified). These holes are present for manufacturing reasons.

A drive link 196 is disposed in each slot between the inner tine 88 andthe laterally spaced outer tines 182 and 197. Each drive link has themain body and foot 114 of the first described drive link 112. At thedistal end each drive link 196 has a head 198, one head identified. Eachhead 198 is formed have teeth 199, one set of teeth identified. Thedrive link teeth 199 are spaced apart from each other along proximal todistal longitudinal axis of the cartridge with which the links 96 areintegral

A blade 202 is disposed between tine lobes 184. Blade 202 has a web 210.Two legs 206, one leg identified, that are integral with the web 206extend proximally from the web. Legs 206 are spaced apart from eachother so tine head 95 can seat between the legs. The blade 202 is formedso that teeth 204 extend outwardly from legs 206, two teeth identified.Teeth 204 are dimensioned to engage the teeth 199 integral with theadjacent drive link 196. Blade 202 is further formed to have a curvedproximally directed face 208 that is located between legs 206 at thedistal end of web 210. Face 208 is similar to face 144 of blade 136.

Blade web 210 extends to the distal end of the guide bar. A head 212 isintegral with and located forward of the distal end of web 210. Head 210is functionally the same as blade head 146. Teeth 148 extend forward ofhead 210

Also seen in FIG. 5 is a portion of the underlying bottom plate 220.Bottom plate 220 is similar in structure to previously described bottomplate 64. Specifically seen are the slots 72 formed in the bottom plate.

When a cartridge having the components of FIG. 5 is assembled, thecomponents are arranged so that blade teeth 204 engage the teeth 198integral with the driver links 196. The cartridge is used in the samemanner in which the previously described cartridge 60 is used. When thiscartridge is used, the reciprocal motion of the drive links 196 istransferred to the blade by the engagement of teeth 198. As a result ofthis engagement the longitudinal back and forth reciprocation of thedrive links causes the blade 202 to pivot back and forth around the tinehead 95.

It should be understood that the components of the cartridge of FIG. 5are constructed so that outer tines 182 and 197 restrain the outwardlateral movement of the adjacent heads 198 of the drive links 196. Morespecifically the outer side surfaces of the drive link heads 198 pressagainst the side surfaces of the adjacent drive links 196. Thisrestraining of the motion of the drive link head 198 ensures that, asthe links reciprocate to pivot the blade 202, the pivoting movement ofthe blade legs 206 push the rive link heads 198 away from the adjacentteeth 204. If this action was allowed to occur, it could result in thedrive link teeth 199 disengaging from the blade teeth 204.

The above is directed to specific versions of the invention. Alternativeversions of the invention may have features different from what has beendescribed.

For example, the various features of the different versions of theinvention can be combined.

Likewise not all versions of the invention may have all the describedfeatures. There may not be a requirement that is all versions of theinvention the outer tines extend forward of the inner tine. In versionsof the invention where the outer tines have distal sections that arelocated forward of the inner tine, it may not be necessary to providethe outer tines with inwardly extends lobes.

Not all versions of the invention may include ribs 150. In some versionsof the invention the ribs may be stamped or molded or otherwiseintegrally formed with the top plate.

Likewise, in some versions of the invention, the inner plate 76 may bewholly or partially formed with one or both of the bottom plate 64 ortop plate 102. Thus, in these versions of the invention, once a blank isformed, the blank is machined to define the slots in which the driverods are seated and that define the perimeter of the tines.Alternatively, the opening- and slot-defining portion of the guide barmay be formed by molding.

In some versions of the invention, a single drive link may be all thatis needed to pivot the blade head. In some versions of the invention theone or more drive links may not be parallel to the longitudinal axisthrough the cartridge. Thus in these versions of the invention, theopenings in the guide bar through in which elements of the one or moredrive links are seated likewise may not be aligned on line that areparallel to the longitudinal axis through the cartridge.

In versions of the invention in which the at least one drive link andthe blade are provided with complementary teeth, the guide bar may havea structure different from what has been described. Specifically theguide bar may be formed so that head are which the blade head is not anintegral part of one of the plates forming the bar. In these versions ofthe invention, the structure around which the blade pivots may be a pinmounted to or integral with at least one of the plates that form thebar.

In some versions of the invention two or all three of the plates thatform the guide bar may not be three distinct plates that are welded orotherwise secured together. In these alternative versions of theinvention, the plural plates are machined or molded together as a singleunit.

The various shapes of the elements may also vary from what has beendescribed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the appended claims to cover all suchvariations and modifications that cover the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical saw cartridge for oscillating a blade,the surgical saw cartridge comprising: a guide bar including a proximalend and a distal end, the guide bar comprising: two outer plates; and aninner plate located between the two outer plates, the inner platedefining a base at the proximal end of the guide bar; an outer tinedisposed between the two outer plates, the outer tine extending distallyfrom the base; an inner tine extending distally from the base, the innertine being disposed between the two outer plates and formed to define ahead; a blade coupled to the guide bar, the blade formed with teethlocated distal to the guide bar and the blade configured to contact andpivot about the head of the inner tine; and at least one drive linkmoveably disposed between the two outer plates within a space betweenthe inner tine and the outer tine, the at least one drive link havingopposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the at least onedrive link adapted to be attached to a drive element of a saw and thedistal end of the at least one drive link being connected to the bladeso that reciprocation of the at least one drive link results in pivotingof the blade around the head of the inner tine.
 2. The surgical sawcartridge of claim 1, wherein the outer tine comprises a pair of outertines spaced apart from one another, the pair of outer tines beingmirror images of one another.
 3. The surgical saw cartridge of claim 2,wherein at least a portion of the blade is located between the pair ofouter tines.
 4. The surgical saw cartridge of claim 2, wherein the pairof outer tines are symmetrically located relative to a longitudinal axisthrough the guide bar.
 5. The surgical saw cartridge of claim 1, whereinthe two outer plates and the inner plate are three separate plates thatare secured together to form the guide bar.
 6. The surgical sawcartridge of claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the outer tine forms asection of an outer side surface of the guide bar; and wherein the guidebar includes a side weld formed along the section of the outer sidesurface of the guide bar that couples the outer tine to each of the twoouter plates.
 7. The surgical saw cartridge of claim 1, wherein an outersurface of the outer tine forms a section of an outer side surface ofthe guide bar; and wherein the guide bar includes a side weld formedalong the section of the outer side surface of the guide bar thatcouples the outer tine to each of the two outer plates.
 8. The surgicalsaw cartridge of claim 1, wherein the inner tine defines an opening inregistration with an opening of one of the two outer plates.
 9. Asurgical saw cartridge for oscillating a blade, the surgical sawcartridge comprising: a guide bar including a proximal end and a distalend, the guide bar comprising: two outer plates; an inner plate locatedbetween the two outer plates; a base that forms a proximal end of theinner plate; two outer tines extending distally from the base and spacedapart from one another; an inner tine that extends distally from thebase, the inner tine being disposed between the two outer tines, theinner tine is formed to define a head; a blade coupled to the guide bar,the blade formed with teeth located distal to the guide bar and theblade configured to contact and pivot about the head of the inner tine;and at least one drive link moveably disposed between the two outerplates within a space between the inner tine and one of the two outertines, the at least one drive link having opposed proximal and distalends, the proximal end of the at least one drive link adapted to beattached to a drive element of a saw and the distal end of the at leastone drive link being connected to the blade so that reciprocation of theat least one drive link results in pivoting of the blade around the headof the inner tine.
 10. The surgical saw cartridge of claim 9, whereinthe two outer plates and the inner plate are three separate plates thatare secured together to form the guide bar.